Governor for steam-engines



(No Model.)

L. w. ANDREWS. GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES- No. 247,235. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

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LEE W. ANDREWS, OF LIVE OAK, CALIFORNIA.

GOVERNOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,235, dated September 20, 1881,

Application filed July 27, 1881. (No model.)

. ing through them, with collars which prevent the parts from separating beyond a certain point. A spring of suflicient strength to keep the two parts pressed against the collars is inserted between them. One of the stems is suitably connected with an operating crank or eccentric upon the engine-shaft, and the other is connected with a crank-arm upon a balancewheel, which has a coiled spring and operates like the balance of a watch. This spring is set to a tension which will cause it to vibrate in unison with the reciprocating movements of the valve and engine, but its resistance to any increase in speed will retard the forward movement of the leading part of the two-part valve, diminishing the open space between the valves, thereby cutting 0E steam. If the speed of the engine should decrease, the momentum of the valve will cause it to retard the leading part of the valve, thereby allowing the valves to be kept open by the spring, which tends to separate them and allow a greater admission of steam to the engine,

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the valves and attachments on an enlarged scale.

A is an engine-cylinder; B, the valvechest, eontaining',valves to govern the admission and egress of steam to drive the piston. These parts of the engine may be of any suitable or wellknown pattern, my invention being applicable to any engine.

My governor consists of a cylindrical or other suitably-shaped case, G, which is adapted to receive steam from the boiler or generator through a throttle-valve at D.

The governor-valve consists of two short cylinders, E, fitted to slide in the case 0, and the case is surrounded by a passage, F, which communicates with its interior at the point where the valve is placed and leads to the steam or valve chest B. When the two parts of the valve are brought close together they form a continuous cylinder, which closes all communication between the interior of the valve case or chamber 0 and the exterior passage, F, and when separated they will provide a steam opening or passage of greater or less extent. This opening is controlled or regulated as follows: A stem, G, enters the chamber through a stuffing-box at one side and passes through the adjacent cross bars or heads of the two parts of the valve. Collars H are fixed upon this stem at such a distance apart as will allow the parts of the valve to separate to the greatest extent desired. The outer end of this stem is connected with a crank or eccentric upon the engine-shaft through a rocker arm and rod or by other suitable means, to produce a reciprocatin g motion which is transmitted to the valve. Another shortstem, I, passes through the adj acent ends of the valve-sections, and is also provided with exterior collars, J, against which and the collars H the heads are held by a spiral or other spring, K, which may surround one of the stems, as shown. This would keep the two parts of the valve separated to their utmost distance, and as the space between them corresponds with the openings to the passage F, steam would pass freely through the valve to the engine, while the valve was caused to reciprocate by its stem or rod, but not far enough to at any time pass the openings or cut off steam in that manner.

The opening between the two parts of the valve is diminished bythe following device: A red, L, is jointed to the end of the stem 1, and connects it with a crank-arm, M, on the wheel N. A coiled spring, 0, is attached to the axle of this wheel and operates to return it in its oscillations similarly to the balancewheel of a clock or watch.

The oscillations of the balance-wheel are produced by the reciprocation of the valvestem G, and through it the rod I1. The weight of the balance and the tension of the springs are such as to cause the wheel to oscillate in unison with the movements of the engine when the latter is running at the desired rate of speed. When, however, the engine increases its speed the inertia of the wheel will resist the tendency of the valve to move faster, and through the rod L and its adjacent collar J upon the stem I will check that part of the valve nearest to it. The other part will, however, be impelled faster by the action of the collar H upon the valve-stem, and will overcome the tension of the spring K, so that the two parts of the valve will approach each other and partially close the space between, thus lessening the amount of steam which passes to the engine. The return movement of the valve-stem draws the other part of the valve forward, while the inertia of the wheel acts through the opposite collar upon the stem I to resist the movement of the part first men tioned, and this alternate movement of the two parts will reduce the space between them according to the speed of the engine and regulate it, thus making a delicate and reliable governor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Pa ten t, is-- 1. The valve composed of two cylindrical sections, reciprocating in a case, as shown, and separated by the spring K and prevented from spreading by collars upon the valve-stem and stem I, as shown, in combination with the balance-wheel N, connected by a rod with the stern I, so that its inertia will alternately resist the movement of each half of the valve and close or diminish the opening between them, substantially as and for the purpose herein dedescribed.

2. A governor for engines, consisting of a case, G, receiving steam at one end and discharging it through a concentric passage, F, to the engine, said case having the two-part valve E r'eciprocated within it by the stem G, in combination with the balance-wheel N, connected with the valve by a stem, I, the collars H J, and the spring K, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In'witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEE ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. Mo'rcro, L. SoHEN. 

